Parvez pleads for leniency

Mumbai, Sep 22 (UNI) Parvez Sheikh, convicted yesterday of planting explosives at Katha Bazaar and at Hotel Sea Rock in Bandra during the 1993 serial bomb blasts, today pleaded for leniency.

The 40-year-old erstwhile aide of prime absconding accused Tiger Memon, Sheikh was found guilty by TADA judge Pramod Kode of planting an RDX-laden scooter at Katha Bazaar which killed four persons and injured 21 besides damaging property worth Rs 40 lakh. He was also found guilty of placing an RDX-laden suitcase in a room at Hotel Sea Rock, which exploded damaging property worth Rs nine crore. However, nobody was hurt in this blast.

Recording his statement on the quantum of punishment to him, Sheikh pleaded with the judge to take a lenient view because he has old parents, a school-going son and wife to look after; being the only bread-earner in the family.

Like most others convicted so far, Sheikh, too held the communal riots in the city in 1992-93 in the aftermath of demolition of Babri Masjid, as responsible for his participation in the conspiracy and sought to know why those named in the report of Justice Srikrishna Commission, which probed the riots, have not been tried or punished so far.

The court will pronounce punishment after hearing arguments of the defence and prosectuion.

UNI XR-SA VD KN1805